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A Timeline of Rock Bridge
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CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF ROCK BRIDGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH June 1981 Formation of the Columbia New Church committee which conducted a survey to assess interest for a Christian Church in the south part of Columbia July 1981 The Columbia New Church Steering Committee was formed to consider further action. Woody Whitlow was elected chairman. October 1981 The first church service was held Nov. 1, 1981 at Jerry’s Restaurant (3101 S. Providence). The name of Rock Bridge Christian Church was chosen and Nelson Schuster was appointed church historian. February 1982 A motion was made and carried that Rock Bridge CC apply for a charter and become officially recognized as a Disciples of Christ congregation March 1982 A quote from the church bulletin for March 21, 1982: "What we do and decide in the very near future will determine the kind of church we shall be. Some think we should not be a typical, traditional church." August 1982 The congregation began meeting in Epple Chapel at Lenoir. Robert and Mary Flanagan were named co-pastors and stayed until the summer of 1986. September 1982 Sunday School began with four classes. October 1982 The first permanent officers were elected at a retreat at Olivet Christian Church. A statement of purpose was written. October 3, 1982 This was Bob and Mary Flanagan’s first Sunday at Rock Bridge CC. January 3, 1983 A CWF group was organized. February 1983 Charter membership was closed with 60 members registered. June 1983 Bruce Goebel was hired as architect. August 1983Largest attendance on record at 98. October 1983 Approved new building plans presented by the Building Committee. November 1983 Groundbreaking for the new buildings. December 1983 Ended the year with 72 members. July 29, 1984 Moved in caravan from Epple Chapel at Lenoir to the new buildings at 301 W. Green Meadows Road. August 5, 1984 First Sunday to meet for church school and Sunday worship at the new buildings. October 1984 A quote from the bulletin: "We have been told that we have inspired other churches to try to do better in the ministry of outreach." February 1985 Race Relations Sunday — held in conjunction with Fifth Street Christian Church March 5, 1985 Nelson Schuster, one of the founding fathers of the congregation, died. (See special notes on Nelson Schuster’s influence on Rock Bridge CC) Summer 1986 Flanagans left. Dale Scott was interim minister until October 1987. November 1987 Maureen Dickmann was called as pastor of Rock Bridge CC. February 1988 The first annual Shrove Tuesday Benefit Chili Supper was held (the day before Ash Wednesday). A decision was made to give half the proceeds to Habitat for Humanity and half to another charity. Proceeds have been split as follows: All proceeds went to Habitat for Humanity
March 1988 Began the first annual Maundy Thursday Simple Supper, communion and Tenebrae service with Fifth Street Christian Church December 1990 Nancy Shivvers (elder, gardener, church leader) died of cancer. July 1993 Began participation in the Disciples of Christ Mission Conversations program where we talked with representatives from the General Church about our church’s focus on mission and outreach giving. November 1993 The board adopted a specific property policy and bequest policy. March 27, 1994 The mortgage was paid off and celebrated with a mortgage burning service and fellowship dinner. December 1994 The Livingston Fund was established (in honor of Mildred Livingston); proceeds provided new hymnals and altar cloths designed and made by Barb Wyss. January 1995 Woody Whitlow, another one of Rock Bridge CC’s founding fathers, died after a long battle with cancer. (See a special founding member profile for more information about Woody’s influence on Rock Bridge CC.) Summer 1995 Participated in a Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build for the first time. It was an ecumenical effort of 13 churches working 6 Saturdays in May and June to build a house with a four a family of three. Rock Bridge CC organized the participation of six Disciples congregations. September 1995 RBCC sponsored al "alternative" tent revival, setting up a large tent on our lawn for three evenings of preaching and music. The focus was on God’s inclusive love for all people and featured Rita Nakashima Brock, Jim Blanton (a retired Presbyterian minister and advocate for the inclusion of homosexuals in the church), and Clanton Dawson, the pastor of All People’s Church in Columbia. Six churches (including Catholic and an Episcopalian) sponsored the event which drew a total of over 500 people. Members of a Church of Christ church leafleted our guests, claiming such inclusiveness was against God’s word and will. Summer 1996 After a careful and prayerful discernment process, Pastor Maureen Dickmann chose to "come out" to the congregation. In consultation with the church’s five elders, she spoke with most members personally, with the elders speaking to people with whom they had close relationships). After everyone had been contacted, a congregational forum was held after worship. It was a time of profound sharing for those who attended. Two retired men left the church immediately because of the pastor’s coming out. Two other individuals stayed on to fight, one a member of longstanding and an elder, the other a new but very active member. Both were Board members. They proposed a congregational survey and another forum (neither came to the first one). There was a high percentage of return on the surveys and a generally positive feeling for the church and satisfaction with the way things were going. At the second forum it became apparent that the two who had engineered the survey wanted the pastor fired, but the rest of the congregation disagreed. Eventually, the two left RBCC. October 1996 First Whitlow Lecture on Stewardship, given by Rev. Rhodes Thompson. September 1997 Second alternative tent revival held — this time with 13 sponsoring churches from eight denominations. Speakers were Rev. Grace Imathieu, a Methodist pastor from Kenya working on a Ph.D. in New Testament at Vanderbilt University, Rev. Holly McKissick, pastor of St. Andrew Christian Church in Olathe, KS, and Rev. Clanton Dawson again. November 1997 RBCC honored by the Church Finance Council for ranking 50th in per capita BMF giving among the entire denomination. This honor has been received by Rock Bridge numerous times. September 1998 Installed our first Director of Music Ministries, Philip Cox-Johnson. June 1999 RBCC sponsored our first refugee family from Bosnia. After the Djebo’s got through all the preliminaries for settling in Columbia, they discovered relatives in Georgia and decided to move there. August 1999 RBCC sponsored our second Bosnian family, the Gubic’s. They arrived the day before their daughter started the 3rd grade. Many church folk helped with their furnishings, transportation, English lessons, job searches, etc. December 1999 RBCC sponsored our third Bosnian family, the Kovacevic’s. Nov. 99 — Feb. 00 RBCC helped build a Habitat for Humanity house with five other Disciples churches, working only on the weekends. March 2000 Received $528,000 designated for the Building Fund from Bertha Hammann estate. April-Sept. 2000 Completed the Faithful Planning process with Ryan Hazen from Church Extension as our partner. May 2000 Started a youth group for youth ranging from 4th grade through high school. September 2000 Adopted long-range goals and a statement of calling: Rock Bridge Christian Church joyfully welcomes persons of every race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, economic status, educational level, and differing ability into an intentionally inclusive faith community. We experience the liberating, reconciling love of Christ through creative opportunities to worship God and serve those who are in need in Columbia and throughout the world. September 2000 Participated in Miracle Day at Fifth Street Christian Church. January 2001 The Board appointed the Faithful Building Team to work on one of the long range goals — building a sanctuary without compromising RBCC's commitment to outreach giving (25% of every general operating dollar) March 2001 Selected Fabian Llonch as designer of the sanctuary. April 2001 RBCC had a booth at Columbia's Earth Day celebration. May 2001 RBCC established a web site: www.rockbridgecc.org June 2001 Selected Huebert Builders as the contractor for the building. July 2001 Approved final plans for sanctuary/classroom building. November 2001 20th anniversary of the congregation and groundbreaking for the new building. |